It’s a gloomy day for metal fans, as former Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr–who has been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis for many years–died in his sleep last night.
Burr joined Iron Maiden in 1979, after a stint in Samson, which also featured Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson on its first three albums. Burr played on Iron Maiden’s self-titled debut of 1980, 1981’s Killers, and the ’82 breakthrough The Number of the Beast.
That means he was the guy slamming the skins on such iconic headbanger classics as “Wrathchild”, “Running Free”, and “Run to the Hills”.
“He was a great guy and a man who really lived his life to the full,” said vocalist Bruce Dickinson. “Even during the darkest days of his M.S., Clive never lost his sense of humour or irreverence. This is a terribly sad day…”
Clive Burr, bottom left, shares a pint with Maiden in the early ’80s.